Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fairness, when the Defence Forces appeared before us, they made the point that they are, in effect, their own world. They made the point that every profession one could think of is replicated within the Defence Forces, from a surgeon to an engineer, because they need the ability to have that presence in other countries. I still take Mr. Gleeson's point.

This is the first session we have had in which overtime has been referred to as an allowance, although the Chairman or the Clerk might correct me if I am wrong. In every other session we have had, overtime was separate. Yesterday afternoon, we dealt with local authority workers and their representatives made the point that in a recent Labour Court hearing covering their members, the judgment was that an allowance and overtime are completely separate. They are different things. However, we are having a discussion here in which overtime is part of the allowance umbrella.

Is there any reason for that or is it just a cultural issue as part of how it has been managed?